A Frizzy Weekend In… Toulouse
A couple of years back, after celebrating a significant birthday in Mexico I told myself that I would spend every birthday abroad. About that plan, it crashed and failed! But on my last birthday, I woke up 2 days before and alongside my sister said “Yo, peace out England. Hi Toulouse!”
First Impressions
I left England in 9-degree rainy weather and I touched down to 30 degrees. My turtle neck top was stuck to me so I was 50 shades of flustered. I noticed how clean the streets were though.
What I Did
Treated a boujie Seafood restaurant like a strip club on my birthday. I was throwing euros down on all type of seafood that I’d never tried before! Clam, clam, sea snail… oui oui, euro, euro… splash. I’m sure I endangered the seafood species because I was eating all sorts non- stop. Oh yeah, and I dropped a whole seafood platter. Oops!
Chilled by Pont Neuf river day and night. During the night time, it gets super lively, with food and music. And during the day it’s really calming to just chill there with a takeaway.
Visited staple places such as La Capitole and the Basilica of Saint Sernin. The buildings were cute. I didn’t learn about the history behind the buildings or anything. Sometimes just stare and admire.
Spent half a day in the Jardin Du Japonais reading and being mesmerized by the view. If you do only thing in Toulouse, you have to visit these gardens. Honestly, they are so beautiful.
Stumbled into some random graffiti street art district and fell in love. The road is called Rue de Gramat.
Food
I’m a seafood lover so Toulouse was the shiz-naii-ee no flies around. The food was fresh, I was forever full up. And I literally had my cake and could eat it too. There are also a lot of Senegalese restaurants so you can get your West African food fix. Senegalese fish is prestige!!! They seem to run on Black people time so don’t rush there at 6.30 pm when they have just opened at 6.pm, because they just might be closed.
Food Spot Recommendations
Brasserie, Les Boux Arts: The Fishmonger Platter
Black Lemon: Carrot Cake and the best smoothies.
Wrap Up
Toulouse was actually amazing. It was quirky, tasty, and it was super relaxing. You will not be disappointed spending your birthday there and it’s also the perfect location for solo travels. Everywhere is so easy to get to which makes a first trip there extra nice. I would go back, I think it’s perfect if you’re there for a good time, not a long time.
I cried in the lead up to my birthday because I felt miserable that I’d be in England on yet another year. After my breakdown session, I G’d up and went on Skyscanner and checked for the cheapest flights out of the UK. Random places like Luxemburg came up. 4th on the list was Toulouse and I just ran with it. I’m really happy that I chose this city.
A Frizzy Weekend In… Dusseldorf
Have you heard the saying, “Home is Where the Heart is?” Well, that’s how I ended up in Dusseldorf for the weekend. I’ve never been interested in visiting Germany, but I’ll go wherever my loved ones are. And my favourite Tunisian lives there.
First Impressions
I felt indifferent when I arrived. Dusseldorf just came across as a plain jane. Saying that I arrived after missing my initial flight, which zoned me out. When I arrived in the city centre I realised how cold the city really was. The city was busy, but not London, overwhelmingly busy, and I needed that.
What I Did
Well, I filled my belly at the Christmas/Winter markets. It clearly goes down at these markets. I got me some gingerbread!
I let my inner child out and played with bubbles by the London eye looking Ferris wheel. It felt so good, I can’t say children’s parents felt my vibes though haha.
I ended up in some haunted “danger-danger high voltage” zone. My homegirl took me to see what was supposed to be Dusseldorf’s sweetest spot, the Rhine Tower. But because google maps clearly pranked her we ended up in a deserted industrial zone that looked like a scene from a horror movie. We all know who gets killed in these horror movies first!
Food
I’m definitely a fan of the schnitzel. I became a believer during this trip. I was nervous about eating out because I thought it would be pork central in every meal, and I don’t eat the swine! Meals in Dusseldorf were basic though, can’t say I had high hopes though because I’d be lying. Major lack of seasoning!
I would recommend Hexe Bolker 4 in Altstadt though for dinner and to catch a vibe! I can vouch for the Chicken Escalope Schnitzel with Peppercorn sauce and fries.
Wrap Up
Dusseldorf was ayt. I liked that that I didn’t need to leave out early and come back in the evening to experience the city. It felt really refreshing to not have a pre planned list, or to have to fit things in. Dusseldorf allowed me Netflix and chill time, which is forever favourite of mine. And them 9 hour sleeps, ouuu they were the one.
Everyone seemed chilled and I felt comfortable roaming the city. Then again I don’t speak a word of German so if the people were cussing me I wouldn’t know aha.
I’ll visit again for love. I’m still indifferent, swinging to a like but definitely not in love with the city!
A Frizzy Weekend in... Athens
A weekend in Athens should have been amazing. My plane took off on time, I booked a good quality apartment in a hotel. Ouuu the hotel had one of the communal rooftop bars that everyone loves and the weather was 36 degrees. My idea of real good time. But BAM it just didn't go down like that. Regardless, I've still got you covered, until I spill the T at the end.
First Impressions
As soon as I left the airport I thought "yes, Apple weather wasn't lying for once." The weather was doing bits, properly make you sweat in awkward places sort of hot weather! Then I noticed the landscape with all the hills/mountains and I just stared in awe because the view was so beautiful.
What To Do In Athens
Athen's major pull factor is that the city is not lacking in things to do, plus there is a whole lot of history squashed in the city. There are historical sites posted up pretty much everywhere. The novelty of having lots of historical sites to visit wore off pretty quickly for me though as there were always lots of people about. There are a few places I definitely recommend though.
The remains of what was Hadrian's library. This was the largest structure built by the Roman Emperor. It housed music and lecture rooms plus a massive pool. (If you're a bookworm this if for you)
The National Historical Museum. The building used to be Greek's parliament, and the debates chamber is naturally the first room you venture into. The Museum showcases traditional Greek clothing, warships and some serious weaponry.
The area of Plaka - Grab food down one of the side streets. It's the old neighbourhood of Athens and has a completely different vibe from the rest of the city.
Taking a walk in the National Gardens. It's lush and you can easily explore the grounds for hours getting lost in nature. (Maybe pack some pepper spray to come with you)
Hadrian’s Library
In the National Gardens
Food
Every meal I ate tasted fresh, from the salads to the hot dishes with fish and seafood but as a whole, the food contained no Va-Va-Voom! You know when you eat a meal and know that a lot of love went into it. It didn't feel like that in Athens.
There is one cafe that hands down cannot be skipped though. In Psyrri lies a magical little area, that takes you to a fairyland. I'm talking multi-coloured umbrella installations, candy floss flowers and Mary Poppins galore. The Little Kook, is an unforgettable cafe, serving drinks, crepes, cakes and all sorts of filling forming desserts. Apple Pie with Crumbles is worth every filling.
“There’s definitely something anti in the Athens air! Word to my mumma, I don’t go where I’m not wanted!”
Nightlife
The nightlife in Athens is super lively. There are various nightclub choices in the area of Keramikos, which also get double points because they were right next to restaurants that looked like they were closing no time soon when I left the clubs at 4.30 am. Most clubs allow for casual wear and you can pay for entry via cash or card.
The Penthouse night club has the DJ's that play the bangers, Afrobeats, Bashment, Rnb, Trap. (The name of the club is misleading as it doesn't even have a door let alone a top view, but the vibes were right so no beef) Latin music was doing the rounds in all clubs as I walked down the strip so if you love Latin artists like J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Rosalia you'll be happy.
If you don't want to shake a leg but see yourself chilling with a cocktail and nibbles visit Couleur Locale in the area of Monastiraki. Monastiraki is a really energetic area so even if you don't have any solid plans you are sure to find a motive there. I stayed in the area and the streets never slept.
Wrap Up
I found my time in Athens to be for the most part horrible. Yes, I enjoyed the food and took good pictures but you can really do that in any country and I don't glow around being treated like a second class citizen.
Out in public, I experienced men staring at me for way too long and also shouting comments at me- this was generally the older men. Oh, and in a National Garden, one man took it to the extreme to watch me whilst playing with himself. Proper sickening. For every good restaurant, there was a far from a good one. I was kicked out of the first restaurant I visited because I sent a meal back that looked nothing like what I ordered. Yeah, and waiters went out of their way to refer to me as chocolate when trying to get me to take a seat in their restaurants. Then there were the occasions where cashiers point-blank ignored me and my home girl when we attempted to purchase things.
Two days after I shared my personal experience of visiting Athens on my Instagram I found out through social media that a fellow Black-British woman had been arrested in Athens and was being held without a lawyer or translator. She was accused of breaching sexual decency, something that she has strongly denied and was later acquitted of. So yeah, it's safe to say Athens is not on my list of places to return. There's definitely something anti in the Athens air! Word to my mumma, I don't go where I'm not wanted!
Watch my vlog here to see the cheeky meal I got kicked out of a restaurant over and much more.
Have you visited Athens? What has been your experience in the city?
Frizzy
HOTEL: The Galata Istanbul MGallery by Sofitel
Picking a hotel always leaves me feeling extremely nervous. Even once I've booked one I'm constantly second-guessing if I've picked the right one, am I in a good area, and could I have found a better-suited hotel for me? I felt really satisfied with my decision this time though. When I arrived outside the hotel and saw the red carpet at the entrance, my face lit up. "They've brought the carpet out for my arrival ah I'm a superstar." Turns out the carpet is always there but it was definitely a welcomed touch!
Picking a hotel always leaves me feeling extremely nervous. Even once I've booked one, I'm constantly second-guessing if I've picked the right one, if I'm in a good area, and if I could have found a better-suited hotel for me. This time, however, I felt really satisfied with my decision. When I arrived outside the hotel and saw the red carpet at the entrance, my face lit up. "They've brought the carpet out for my arrival, ah, I'm a superstar." It turns out the carpet is always there, but it was definitely a welcome touch!
Based in the Karaköy district, the MGallery is relatively new. Even though it is just over a year old, the venue has lived a full life. To open an MGallery, there must be a history behind the building. Back in the day, the venue was an Italian bank. If you look behind the reception desk, you can see deposit boxes, which really add flavour. If it's not seasoned, I'm not impressed. The lounge area also houses a bar serving everything from hot drinks to cocktails.
“The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom.”
The spa offers many treatments, with English prices, of course. However, you could be swayed by the Turkish hammam, which dates back more than 300 years, giving you an authentic experience. Certain packages also grant you access to the sauna and steam room. Plus, in the spa's chill-out area, you receive complimentary tea and snacks. I love complimentary stuff.
Rooms
This boutique hotel has 83 rooms spread out across 4 floors, and not once did I see anyone on my floor. I love feeling like I'm the only guest at the hotel, and I was very much made to feel that way throughout my stay. The staff were smiley and always happy to assist, and their energy felt genuine.
I originally stayed in the deluxe king room and I fell in love with the room's decor. It wasn't loud; the colours were neutral and had a real warming flair. The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom—especially the tiles! As soon as I was introduced to the bed, I was a goner. I was actually, knocked out clean for hours, to the point that I woke up frazzled and it was dark outside. I had to order room service, because I had no intention of getting out of my bathrobe and cute MGallery slippers! The only thing missing for me was a bathtub. That said, the shower was fantastic.
Speaking of water, bottled water was delivered to my room every morning without fail. And all rooms have a minibar, and the suites even have champagne stocked in them. Inserts Nigerian voice "Hayyyy" if you cannot afford it, don't touch it!
The rooms on the higher floors have the best views of the city, and many rooms come with balconies. However, if you forfeit a balcony, you do get to enjoy the breathtaking ceiling detail on the second floor. Plus, there's a hidden game-changer on that floor too—the cutest ever 2-level suite. On the lower floor, it has a living room with a toilet, and then on the upper floor, there's a king-sized bed and master bathroom. I spent my last night lying in bed with cake, planning on how I could get away with moving permanently into this suite.
I'm usually indifferent to the complimentary shower gel and toiletries in the bathroom because more time than not they feel basic. But don't sleep on MGallery's products. The body lotion made me feel like I was in a premium advert and shock horror, the hair conditioner actually hydrated my hair. I could write a blog post about hair products in hotels and still be rolling my eyes at the time it would take someone to travel around the world and back, but can we have a moment? These products hooked my afro up.
Side note: I was feeling extra sensitive, because my hair products did not make it out of the airport. So the realisation that these products worked on my hair, hit that little bit deeper!
Nightlife
From 5 pm, the hotel opens its rooftop bar on the second floor. The Anton Peran bar attracts the 18-30-year-old quirky Turkish crowd, allowing you to meet and vibe with locals. Initially, I thought the daily parties going on until 2/3 a.m. would mess up my sleep, but once your room door is shut, you can't hear a thing. The hotel takes soundproofing to a whole different level. Additionally, people attending the bar use a different entrance and exit.
The music genre changes each night. On Tuesdays, they play electronic music, which is not my style at all, but I loosened up because the vibe was so contagious. As someone who doesn't drink alcohol anymore, a good vibe is everything because I can't drown a dead vibe out with tequila shots! On Wednesdays, they play R&B and hip-hop. Don't get too excited though; I'm talking Destiny's Child and Sean Paul (with Kainrow) tunes! MGallery, book me to DJ and bring the good-good up-to-date tunes.
Food
The food hit the spot. All food matters go down in the Civarda Peran restaurant, open from 6:30 am to 11 pm, serving traditional Turkish and worldwide dishes. Breakfast was a banquet. Everything I wanted and didn't know I wanted was there. As someone who doesn't eat pork or cheese, I have always found securing a filling breakfast in Europe to be difficult.
But I felt like a kid in a candy store. Lentil soup, fresh waffles, omelettes with all the trimmings, turkey sausages without the plastic taste, fresh fruit galore... I could go on and on, but the big exclamation mark moment was... drum roll... the unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice.
Laziness is not going to cost you your taste buds, and it's also not going to create a hole in your pocket. Room service offers a variety of options. I ordered meatballs, rice, and chips. Turkish meatballs and English meatballs are two different sizes. I didn't get the round spaghetti meatballs; I was delivered mini-burgers without the bun—four of them! I couldn't finish all the "meat mega-balls," so I ended up eating the rest at 3 a.m. while half asleep. You can have 99 problems, but going hungry at MGallery is not going to be one! I knew that MGallery and I would have matched on Tinder when they brought me, as standard, three different types of seasoning next to my food!
Small small tips
Avoid the rooms that face the main road- I felt like I was in a horror film because of the abandoned building staring back at me through the window. If you don't want to be disturbed, make sure you put your "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door because the staff are really punctual and quick to enter your room to clean.
Wrap Up
I strongly suggest staying at this luxury hotel, and I would happily return to Istanbul and book this hotel again. It aligns with the respectable Sofitel brand, but it's very much its own hotel. You are so close to many staple places, but you're also not overwhelmed by being on their doorstep. The Galata Tower is a 7-minute walk away, and the old town is four tram stops away. I was in a lavish establishment and felt like I belonged there, which isn't always the case when I travel.
The nightlife in the hotel attracts a younger audience, but I really can't put an age range on who this hotel is for because there is enough to satisfy everyone who walks through their doors.
A Frizzy Weekend in… Cannes No Festival
I visited Cannes last month, literally in between two of the biggest Cannes festivals Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lion. Visiting Cannes definitely created an... I came, I saw, I conquered moment. Keeping it all the way 100, you don't need more than one day in Cannes. It's only a 30-minute train ride and €4.90 train ticket from the city of Nice, which is a 2-hour flight from the London. No peer pressure, but I'm going to throw it out there you could fly out in the morning, bang out the day, then be home in your bed after a night flight! Bada-bing Bada-boom.
Shopping
Head to the Boulevard de la Croisette to find the well-known luxury brands. I’m talking the usual premium brands such as Chanel, Gucci and Prada. Imagine Knightsbridge in London except with palm trees. C’mon that’s a nice location to shop in! Plus across the road is the seafront. The road stretches over 1 mile and there are all sorts going on there. People walking their dogs, people jogging, effortlessly, and people heading to and from the beach in their swimwear.
Between the train station and the main boulevard, there are lots of boutique shops and your well known high street ones. Plus, if you are from the UK and are barely surviving without Sephora, Cannes has you covered!
Beachlife
So how it works in Cannes is there are public beaches and also private parts of the beach. The private parts generally are reserved for restaurants or hotels. Because I went in between two festival there were loads of pop-up restaurants and I kid you not they tried to charge me €13 for a soft drink. And I saw Coca Cola on the menu for €10. Newsflash- I'm not that girl!
The public beaches are perfectly fine and I found that they weren’t packed at all, there were only a small amount people there. FYI the sand feels better than it looks. It looks quite grainy but it feels softer. I mean it’s definitely not Seychelles type of sand but it will do.
I can't tell you how nice the sea was for surfing etc because I didn't do that. It was a shame to see that on certain parts of the beach there was lots of oil in the water. It was really off-putting. I'm assuming it's because of all the big yachts parked up nearby, but if you’re after a holiday where swimming plays a large role, I’d reconsider going to Cannes.
Major Key- How happy would you be if you could get a massage whilst you sunbathe on the beach? Some ladies roaming the beaches have got you covered, for €25 per 20 minutes. Don't try to look for them, they'll find you!
Food
The food in Cannes was the highlight of my trip big time. One restaurant in particular really stood out and is open for both lunch and dinner. Astoux & Brun serve the good-good fresh seafood. Seafood and fish is their speciality. And I had the opportunity to try escargot for the first time. *Insert Drake lyric* When’s the last time you did something for the first time? They are basically big snails. It sounds nasty when you overthink it but they taste banging. Ooouu and I also tried oysters for the first time... I have no shame saying that I had to Google how to eat oysters. Lobster, Crab and all that good stuff are also available at the restaurant.
For a light lunch I’d recomment eating the Seafood Spaghetti at L'Avion or getting a Pad Thai Salad at Warner’s Cafe.
*I have a confession I saw a snail in my garden today and found my mind drifting into what it might taste like*
Accommodation
If you want to spend a night or two or three in Cannes there are plenty of places to stay. I went with an apartment I found on Air Bnb which was a 15 minute walk away from the beach and anything important. Cannes really isn’t a big city. the property was clean, bright and cost £69/€80 per night. Plus it had a mini kitchen. I didn’t cook but it’s nice to know the option was there. The closer you are to the beach the more you pay for properties so bare that in mind. Prices range from £150 per night upwards.
Photo’s taken from host’s Air Bnb page *
Wrap Up
If you're going Cannes you need to slay. Cannes is not a humble visit. No, no, no you need to get your "bad and boujie" persona on. So get your shades out of your wardrobe, bring out them Oooh lala outfits and get tah stepping.
Disclaimer: I will not take any responsibility for you going into your overdraft after reading this post!
Frizzy
A Frizzy Weekend In... Reykjavík
Yoo, it was a cold ass extended weekend in Iceland. I'm not about to pretend that my fingers weren't freezing every second that I touched the road. And I'm also not going to lie and say that I didn't do the cha cha slide and fall over countless times in Reykjavík, because I most certainly did. Expect to slip and slide, and uncontrollably dive in the winter and you'll be fine!
I visited Reykjavík, Iceland in the winter season. To be dead exact during the month of December. When I went sunrise was at 11 am and the sunset at 4 pm. It felt mad strange. Imagine heading to breakfast at 9 in the morning and it's still pitch black. Madness.
First Impressions
The flight to Iceland felt a lot longer, in my mind, than it needed to be. Turns out the flight from London to Reykjavík was only 3 hours. Maybe, I was just so excited to witness that level of cold with my own body!?
It's not as snowy as I thought it would be. I imagined some big- big Antartica and maybe Reindeers rolling about on the street (I know my imagination is wild).
"Raar they love big street art in this city".
What is there To Do in Reykjavík
The two places mentioned everytime Iceland is discussed are the Blue Lagoon and Northern Light, and I don't think the two are overrated. As part of my holiday package transfer to and from the Blue Lagoon was included as well as the visit to the Northern Lights.
The Blue Lagoon was magical! Asides from all the cool pictures you’ll take, the experience is mesmerizing. You know the sensation that you get when you jump in a hot bath after a long day? That's the feeling you get at the Blue Lagoon but it lasts for the whole time you are in the water. You also get some face mask included with your entry fee. If you take nothing else from this post please do not be the foolish gal/bwoy who forgets to bring flip flops with them. I was that *insert Nigerian accent* Idjjott whose feet froze. I can't explain to you the level of pain I felt. Book in advance to avoid long queues and to make sure your entry is guaranteed.
*If you have a wig on let that go sis! Let your plaits breath unless you are not fussed about messing up your wig. My orange wig was never the same after!*
The Northern Lights were proper groovy! I saw green and purple lights in the sky and it was breathtaking. My iPhone decided to move proper basic and didn't pick up the colouring. I was initially annoyed but I now think that there is something beautiful about having an image locked in your mind. Something to note though, you can be waiting around for anything up to 90 minutes after you've seen the lights whilst others attempt to take pictures and hang around the space. If you are kind of anti and impatient like myself, you might want to rent a car so you can leave when you're finished rather than when a coach full of people are.
If you have time I'd recommend venturing out of Reykjavík and visiting some hot springs. Go forth and be at one with nature whilst you warm up your body. Also, if you are into vintage clothing, the fashion stores in Reykjavík will have you grinning from ear to ear.
Food
The food in Iceland is not low-low prices. Food is on the E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E side. Once you've mentally accepted this fact the holiday gets better I promise you. You'll easily spend £25 on a lamb burger and fries. On the plus side, everything I ate in Iceland tasted fresh and non-fatty.
Side note: If you have specific dietary requirements let the staff know even if it seems totally irrelevant for what you have ordered. I ordered the fish of the day at a restaurant and there was no mention of anything else coming with it. Yet when my meal came I realised they had put slices of bacon in my meal.
3 Food Spots I Recommend
Sumac - Octopus and hummus with Crispy baby potatoes.
Hotel Island - Fish of the Day (Fresh Icelandic Fish).
Rustik - Lamb shank with mashed potato and seasoned vegetables.
Wrap Up
Wrap up well like the British roadmen do in the summer and you'll be well prepped. I know instagrammable clothes is the go-to for holidays but if you’re visiting Iceland in the winter I can't stress how much comfort over style is a must. If you're thinking about trying out solo travel I would strongly suggest Iceland because I felt at all times extremely safe. (And that means a lot coming from me because my paranoia levels can peak) Also, when I left Iceland I noticed how clear and healthy my face looked. I'm not sure what exactly caused it but myself and my homegirl were left feeling really radiant and refreshed.
Have you visited Reykjavík? Would you visit there in the winter? Watch my Insta vlog to see how Icy Iceland got.
Frizzy
5 places to visit in Warsaw
All I knew when booking my flight to Warsaw, Poland was that I was going to visit Warsaw zoo. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't know where I would eat, bathe or sleep but mateee I knew that I going to the zoo. Surprisingly though, Warsaw gave me so much more.
If you like art, culture and history Warsaw should definitely be on your list of places to go. I’m filling you in on places that will give you some wildlife, a high concentration of museums, an electrifying amount of experiment and then I'm topping it off with some art.
Warsaw Zoo
The zoo is really big. It used to be the biggest in Europe and has all types of animals. I'm talking hippos, giraffes, lions, elephants and more. (I keep thinking about the film 'Madagascar', wondering if the animals link up at night when staff go home.) I'll throw it out there though, I'm not a big fan of zoos and I felt very uncomfortable at times. When I saw polar bears in the zoo I felt really emotional and decided to leave. If the zoo is your thing you could easily spend 4-5 hours immersed in the zoo.
2. Warsaw Uprising Museum
The museum details the experiences of those who lived and fought during the 1943 uprising for an independent Poland and to stop people being deported to camps. The uprising didn't end well for the people of Warsaw and there are screenings showing you from a sky view, what very little was left of the city after the war. The experience was really overwhelming but at the same time very humbling. In just under a month around 7,000 were killed and the survivors, around 50,000 people, were sent to extermination or labour camps. I'd advise you to put your phone and camera away and immerse yourself in this experience. You can't go to Warsaw without visiting this museum, honestly.
3. POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
The location of this museum falls into what used to be the Warsaw Ghetto, where Jews were forced to live when Germany occupied Poland. It was a considerable amount of people living in a restricted area with no way out. I skipped the Holocaust section of this museum, I had limited time and I still felt emotionally charged after the Uprising and it ended up being a good call as my cousin left the museum looking and feeling deflated. It was important for me to be able to learn things about Polish Jews that were not restricted to the Holocaust. It annoys me when I see communities being defined solely by a period of time like it becomes their sole identity.
4. Copernicus Science Centre
I had so much fun at this Science centre. Even writing this is making my face hurt because I'm smiling so much remembering how happy being there made me feel. Everything in there was super interactive, and nothing like any other science museum I have ever visited. I nearly missed out on this because when I originally visited my back hurt and I was super hungry so I only made it to the canteen. I literally ate then went back to my hotel to sleep. I'm pleased to inform you the food banged (was real real nice).
Science has always been my weakest subject at school, so when I hear the word science I usually switch off but I was turnt all the way up in this centre like I had a real good music playlist on!
FYI - On book guides and online it says Copernicus, as well as many museums, are closed on Monday's. That's not the case anymore.
5. Museum of Modern Art
Raar, they love museums in Warsaw, don't they! The subheading gives it away this museum is super artistic. I stumbled across the venue by chance, I was taking a picture of street art and it just happened to be the outside of the museum. The exhibition named 'Fears' is the work of Daniel Rycharski and explores the intersection between rural Poland, queer culture and communities of faith. This particular exhibition ends on the 22nd of April. I'm a big fan of contemporary art, the art of today really reflects society and creates open-ended discussions.
Check out my Poland vlog to find out where else I went to in Warsaw.
Frizzy
A Frizzy Weekend In... Warsaw
It needs to be said, Poland is proper underrated. When I told people I was going to Poland, people looked at me sideways and said either one or both of the below.
“Black people don’t go Poland, I’ve heard they are mad racist out there!”
“Out of all places to visit in Europe, Poland! Really?”
People have a way of throwing their bias and ‘chinese whispers’ on to others. My deflect game was so strong though oh my! I’m not going to front and pretend that Poland was on my bucket list of places to visit because it wasn't. But after reading 'The Zookeepers Wife' I decided that I had to visit Warsaw. The book is non-fiction and tells the story of Jan and Antonina Żabiński who rescued hundreds of Jews from the Germans by hiding them in their Warsaw zoo during World War II.
First impressions
The first thing I noticed was how clean the streets were. I'm talking no rubbish at all on the floor.
"Oh, it's cold!" I knew it would be cold, but you know when the cold just hits you... yeah.
The buildings surprised me. I don't know what I expected but in my mind, I didn't see them looking how they did. In some parts of the city, I saw skyscraper sleek buildings and then I'd turn into a street and see the aftermath of WW2 so clearly.
What I got up to
I initially regretted booking a 4-day getaway because I didn't think there would be enough to do, but it turns out Warsaw is popping and the city doesn't sleep. No, seriously it doesn't! They have sirens wailing at all hours of the night. I always knew that I was going to visit Warsaw Zoo, but other than being madly excited to see the villa in the Zookeepers wife, I wasn’t head over heels with the actual zoo. (If you want to go inside the zookeepers villa you need to pre-book.)
The main thing I did was bounce (or Uber) around Warsaw trying out different museums. When I first heard museums, I thought “yay great” (in the most sarcastic tone ever). Turns out the museums in Warsaw are actually really good. The first museum I visited was Warsaw Uprising, which was a real eye-opener into a key moment in Warsaw and I spent half a day there. I had to dose up on food and good vibes after though because it was a real heavy one. Hmm the vodka museum I thought would be mad exciting and I’d love it but yeah I went and it was plain and simply BORING. Check out my Instagram vlog to get the down-low on that one.
As usual, I stumbled across gems, and whilst attempting a photoshoot, I came across an exhibition called Daniel Rycharski: Fears in the Museum of Modern Art that blew my mind. Where art and culture meets is where I fast myself to go.
Part of the ghetto wall
Seahorse at Warsaw Zoo
Daniel Rycharski: Fears exhibition
Buildings in the Old Town
Warsaw Rising Museum
Vodka Museum
I wandered around the old town taking in all of the beautiful architecture and detail on the buildings. I also bought the most expensive dinner in Poland at one of the restaurants there. And the area has a busy nightlife with lots of bars. How do I know? I drove past them whilst my granny self was in my Uber going back to the hotel to sleep.
Food
The P in Poland stands for pastries and pierogi. Poland is pastry galore - they taste so good and the bread there is amazing. Pierogi are basically dumplings and a staple dish, that has so many variations. I ate veal pierogi, duck pierogi, spinach pierogi and cabbage pierogi. You can't go to Poland and not try Pierogi. Pork is a popular choice when it comes to polish meals. Even though I don't eat pork I didn't find myself limited with meal options when eating out in restaurants. One thing to be aware of though is meals like spaghetti bolognese, that typically in the UK uses minced beef are not the same in Poland. So always double-check what meat is being used before you order. Food in Poland tastes nice and it's definitely a plus that the food is not expensive. You can get a hearty main dish for about 46 Polish Zlotys/£9.20 I think my most expensive dinner cost about 70 Zlotys/£14, and that was in the Old Town. Oh yeah, don't be alarmed like I was when you find random bits of fruit coming with your meal... Just roll with it, it tastes nice.
3 food spots I recommend
Momu - The buttery zander with black lentils.
Panorama Sky Bar (In the Marriott hotel) - Wasabi Ice cream, ginger & chocolate tart.
Grand Kredens - For traditional polish food. Duck with an apple on the side.
Transport
Uber is mad cheap out in Warsaw. A 15-20 minute journey costs about 13 Polish Zlotys, which is just over £2.60. If you want the scenic route get the metro that's about 3 Zlotys / £0.60 per journey. The metro is speedy and comes every 2-3 minutes, plus the metro stations have cool arty designs in them. The metro stops always seemed to be a 10+ minutes walk from wherever I wanted to go, so I got uber.
Wrap Up
The Polish people that I came across were nothing but friendly, especially when they heard my frantic attempts to speak their language. (Jeen-doh-bree) Good day. (Proo-shee) Please (Jeen-koo-yahh) Thank you. When in Rome, do as the Romans and all that. Was I a minority in Warsaw being black, certainly. But, I was not stared at or made to feel uncomfortable at any moment. Warsaw was a vibe, it's an ideal long weekend getaway. I left the city with positive memories and can see myself returning to Poland to visit the city of Krakow in the near future.
Have you been to Warsaw? And if not, can you see yourself visiting? Check out my Instagram vlog to bring my weekend in Warsaw to life.
